November 2023: The leaves are slowly falling from the trees and it's time to wrap up warm and cozy. We have two recommendations for you today as interesting fall sofa reading: Firstly, our 2022 annual reports from our four aid projects have been completed with lots of pictures and secondly, we would like to start a series of portraits of the four project managers with this newsletter.
You can view the annual reports on our website under the respective projects (children's home, village project, feeding project and township). It is good to see that after the difficulties during the corona pandemic, normality has now returned to the projects and aid can be provided at approximately the same level as before the pandemic.
When we were looking for topics for our newsletter, we came up with the idea of introducing you to the project managers of our four aid projects, without whom our work in South Africa would not be possible. To do this, we asked the managers a few questions about their activities in the respective projects and about them personally.
Mr. D.R. Aheer, the long-time director of the soup kitchen "Greytown Feeding Project", will kick things off. Our association chairwoman has known Mr. Aheer for almost 20 years and her encounters have always impressed her because he is such a kind-hearted person, always thinks of the needy and has done good throughout his life, not only in the soup kitchen. As a South African of Indian descent, he grew up during the apartheid era and therefore has exciting things to say about racial segregation in South Africa. Based on a few interview questions about his life and work in the soup kitchen, here is his report (translation) and accompanying pictures.
Enjoy reading and the pictures.
Your Siyabonga-Board
My name is Dhayaram Ramharak Aheer - in Hindi "Daya" means mercy, "Ram" means our creator/God and "Aheer" is a clan or family that takes care of cows. I was born on land leased by my dad from the Greytown Municipality on 9th of June 1941 and I am the 3rd generation of the Aheer family. My grandparents Mr Seyember and Mrs Ramdasia Aheer were brought to South Africa as indentured labourers on the 31st of January 1893.
I was fortunate enough to attend school, and graduated in December 1957. Life back then was difficult - my tasks included taking care of the cows, bringing fruit and vegetables to town on a donkey cart or wheel-barrow or on a three-wheel bicycle and selling it. I saw firewood for sale, and ploughed fields with oxen to plant fruit, corn and vegetables.
Times were tough with the Group Areas Act and other suppressing laws for non-whites. While trying to make ends meet and looking at others who were in a similar or worse situation, especially children and the aged, I made a promise to god that when my situation improves I would like to provide food and other forms of aid to those in need.
In June 1959, I got my drivers licence and my dad bought a Chevrolet pickup which replaced the donkey cart. It was so much more convenient and business began to improve. Sadly I lost my mum in February 1965 and my dad the following year in April 1966. I had to continue in the absence of my parents - especially dad who was always by my side in the van.
On the 29th of December 1968 I married Miss Radhika, an educator, and we are blessed with two daughters, Nivashnie and Preashnie, and a son Vishayram. With god’s grace we were able to give them a better education. Over time they all married and we are further blessed with six grandchildren.
Not forgetting my promise I made to god during my very difficult days, I joined a group of ladies under the leadership of the late Mrs Rani Nulliah who decided to open a soup kitchen in Greytown in 2002. At that time we had 12 to 15 members in our team and used a kitchen at the Greytown Community Centre.
Later that year I was asked to take over as Chairman, a position I still hold. At one of the meetings I decided to change the name from Soup Kitchen to “The Greytown Feeding Project & Distribution Centre”. Our finances were low and fundraising was a must. As part of fundraising we organised e.g. fun walks or golf tournaments. We visited businessed to collect donations and supplies and we were also digging deep into our own pockets. I am very grateful and thankful to all the individuals and businesses who contributed and are contributing to this day. One of them is Kharodia’s Wholesalers who has been donating gas since 2002.
I, together with Dr Naidoo who has now relocated to Durban, decided to approached the Greytown Municipality for a piece of land. After a lot of uphill struggle we were successful in our endeavour and building commenced in 2012 and was completed in 2016.
The Greytown Feeding Project & Distribution Centre was officially opened on the 3rd April 2016 by Dr Juliane Albrecht and myself.
I have met my very dear friend Juliane at the Greytown Children’s Home in 2004 and she, together with her organisation Siyabonga, have been a real pillar of support to this project. Juliane has seen the project grow form a kitchen at the community centre to our very own feeding venue at 68 Voortrekker Street. My happiest moment was when the ribbon-cutting and official opening of the door of the Feeding Project was done. Standing with a crowd of well wishes and with Juliane by my side, holding the scissor made me very emotional - emotion of happiness and satisfaction. In my opening speech I thanked god first and everyone else followed.
The project currently feeds ca. 250 people every Tuesday and Thursday of the week. From 15 members in 2002, we presently have 3 executive and 4 active members to share the work.I have a dedicated little team who helps prepare and serve the food. How nice it is to see the recipients smile and say “thank you” or “siyabonga” as they collect and enjoy the freshly prepared meals.
Not forgetting that with age it does not make it any easier. Challenges will always be there but we must not back away. My biggest worry is why people do not want to come forward and share their knowledge, time and energy. The ever increasing price of food is of great concern, but we know we have your and Siyabonga’s support.
When I do have free time I love to work on my old cars and tractors. I also love spending time with my cows and donkeys and of course my grand-children.
I was sworn in as a Rotarian in July 2006 and in 2010 was given a Serva Rathna award - an award for promoting the Hindi language and being of service to mankind, as well as a certificate of recognition from The People Of Destiney Church for service to mankind. The certificate speaks for itself.
My motto is: “We come this way but once, any good we can do let’s do it while we can, because we may not come back this way again”.
Love and kind regards and also our best wishes to all our wonderful friends and supporters in Germany.
D.R and everyone at the Greytown Feeding Project